Sunday, May 3 SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC MAN
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD
Saturday Liturgy is 6:00 PM
Sunday Liturgy is 10:30 AM
Forget the hurts and unkindness of all yesterdays so that today you will have room to be joyful and at peace.
Lord, bless me with the ability to let go of that, which causes me pain, so
that I may not miss the great joys that today will bring.

The Easter Cycle lasts from the Sunday of St. Thomas (the Sunday after Easter) to the Sunday of All Saints. The period from Easter to Pentecost embraces fifty days and is called by the common name of Pentecost. The Sundays in the Easter season are each named for the event recounted in the Gospel of that day. These occur in the following order: The Sunday of St. Thomas, the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women, the Sunday of the Blind Man, the Sunday of the Fathers of the Church, the Sunday of the Descent of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost) and the Sunday of All Saints. The Easter season, i.e., the post-feast of the Resurrection, lasts forty days, that is, to the feast of the Ascension of our Lord.
The Easter cycle includes thirty two Sundays which follow in consecutive order and for this reason are called ordinary Sundays to distinguish them from the festal Sundays which have their own proper epistle and Gospel. There are a few such festal Sundays in the year, as for example, the Sunday before and after the Nativity of Our Lord and the Sunday before and after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The ordinary Sundays begin with the Sunday of All Saints and end their cycle on the Sunday of Zaccheus which is followed by the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee. The number of these ordinary Sundays depends upon the date of Easter; that is, if Easter comes earlier then there will be more ordinary Sundays, if later, fewer ordinary Sundays.

God is never more than a prayer away –
may He guide you safely day by day.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week April 25 – May 2 by Ann Beshada for Special Intention.

FLOWERS: Our thanks to Jack, Annetta and Jaclyn Rudeski for their donation of flowers this week in memory of John & Anna Rudeski.

SVIACHENE: Our Sviachene (Easter Dinner) will be held next Sunday, May 3, 2009 in our Church Hall at 2:00 PM. Tickets are available The cost is $12 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Please try to attend this Church Social and bring your family and friends. This is the last week end to purchase your tickets. If you did not purchase your tickets the deadline is April 29th. If you plan to be with your fellow parishioners for this nice get together please get your tickets. Donation of desserts for the dinner will be greatly appreciated. Cakes, cookies, puddings, or whatever you desire we will accept. Our thanks to those who donated Gifts for the Chinese Auction to date: Nancy Palumbo – Cosmetic Bag, Kathy Wasichanin – Handmade Needlepoint items, Irene Frisbie – Canister, Stephie Zearfoss – 6 Pysanky, Ann Beshada – 6 Pysanky, Paul & Marion Rose – Toaster, Broiler oven. A few more gifts are needed for the Chinese Auction, Chairman of the Chinese Auction is Mary Ann Kachinko.

Sunday, April 26 THE MYRRH-BEARING WOMEN
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Transfiguration of Our Lord
Saturday 6:00 PM Sunday 10:30 AM

THE LEADING SUNDAY OR
THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER

Some authors derive this name from the fact that this Sunday is the leading Sunday, i.e., the first Sunday that continues the feast of the Pasch. Among our people there existed an old custom, on the Sunday of St. Thomas, of commemorating the dead with a special memorial repast and praying for their souls at the cemetery.
The celebration of the eighth day after the Pasch as the conclusion of Bright Week, from earliest times, had been regarded as a separate feast. The theme of the services of this feast and of the week that follows is the Gospel event describing the apparition of Christ on the eighth day after His resurrection and the moving scene of St. Thomas’ conversion and profession of faith. Regarding the significance of this feast, St. Gregory the Theologian (389), in a homily on the Sunday of St. Thomas said: “The old law, which was established for a good purpose, honors the day of renewal, or rather, should we say, that with the day of renewal it honors new blessings. For, was not the first day of the resurrection which occurred after the holy and glorious night, also a day of renewal? Why, then, do we give this name to today’s feast? That day (i.e. of the Resurrection) was a day of salvation, while this day is the commemoration of salvation. By its very nature, that day separates the burial and the resurrection, while this day is a day of an altogether new birth…Today we celebrate a genuine renewal, going from death to life. Therefore, cast off the old man and renew yourselves and live in newness of life.”
Our Church celebrates the memory of St. Thomas the Apostle on the 6th of October, whereas the Latin Church celebrates it on the 21st of December. About the apostolic work of St. Thomas in a homily delivered on Thomas Sunday, St. John Chrysostom eulogizes St. Thomas thus: “Of all the other Apostles he was, at one time, the weakest in faith but, with God’s grace, he became more courageous and more untiring than the rest. He traversed almost the whole known world, preaching the word of God fearlessly to nations that were fierce, savage and bloodthirsty.” St. Thomas is believed to have died a martyr’s death for the Christian faith in India.

Easter greeting: “Christ is risen! — Indeed He is risen!” Kristos Vosdres – Voistynu Voskres! Is our personal proclamation of Christ’s glorious resurrection, and is the greeting used by the faithful until Ascension Thursday.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn this week April 18 – 25 by Jule Wido & Family in memory of son Frank Wido.

FLOWERS: We thank Helen Sawka and Family for their donation of flowers this week in memory of Theodore Sawka.

SVIACHENE: Our Sviachene (Easter Dinner) is being held on Sunday, May 3, 2009 in our Church Hall at 2:00 PM. Tickets are available The cost is $12 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Bring your family and friends for this dinner
to celebrate the Easter Season.
Deadline for tickets is April 29th. If you did not
purchase your tickets and plan to attend please get
your tickets. Gifts are needed for the Chinese Auction,
Chairman of the Chinese Auction is Mary Ann Kachinko. Desserts for the dinner will be greatly appreciated.

THANKS: Father and Mrs. Petryshak express their thanks to all who sent them Easter greetings and gifts. God’s Blessing on you now and always.
Father also wishes to thank all who participated in the Church Services and procession to make Easter Resurrection so beautiful.
We would like to thank Geri Kolotelo for her preparation and conducting the 1st Generation of Faith in our Parish also to those who participated and attended this beautiful and spiritual presentation. Hopefully the next session more will be interested and be in attendance.

Why do we stand, and not kneel, from Easter to Pentecost?

In the tradition of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, it is wrong to kneel at anytime from Easter to Pentecost. Despite the fact that other churches do it or “visitors…are surprised” does not change the fact that kneeling is not proper during this time.
In the Ukrainian Catholic Tradition, the action of kneeling and prostrating is a penitential posture. It is the position of a sinner seeking forgiveness. It is NOT a position of adoration (as it is in the West). This is why it is practiced so often in the Lenten season.
Standing (the proper position of adoration in the East) on the other hand, in the Ukrainian Catholic Tradition, is the position of giving praise and thanks to God in the spirit of joy and happiness. During the Paschal Season (Easter to Pentecost), the time for repentance, and fasting, is over. It is the time of our salvation for “Christ is Risen!” We express our joy, thanksgiving and adoration for this fact and the fact that we who have “…been baptized into Christ and put on Christ” have also risen with Him. It is for this reason that kneeling is improper during this holy season. To kneel during this season is to imply that you do not accept the resurrection of Christ. By standing for all prayer, (even private before and after services) you are demonstrating, in a bodily way, that you believe that “Christ is risen from the dead, and by death He has trampled death and to those in the graves He has granted life.” You are not being irreverent by standing. Remember that kneeling is not a sign of adoration in the eastern Tradition.

CHRIST IS RISEN!
INDEED, HE IS RISEN!

KRISTOS VOSKRES!
VOISTYNU VOSKRES!

SUNDAY AFTER EASTER
SUNDAY OF SAINT THOMAS

APRIL 19, 2009

Jesus came and stood in the midst of the disciples, Thomas with them and said, “Peace be upon you.” Then said to Thomas “Bring here your finger and examine my hands and bring your hand and put it into My side and be not incredulous but believing.”
Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and My God,” Jesus said to him, “You believe because you have seen Me, blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe.”

FLOWERS: 2 Bouquets of flowers are donated this week by Geri Kolotelo in memory of her mother Anna Kolotelo. Your donation is greatly appreciated.

THANKS: Our thanks to all who were so kind to donate their time for the preparation of our church services and helping in any way to make this Holy Season joyous for all to give praise to our Risen Christ.

SVIACHENE: Our Sviachene (Easter Dinner) is being held on Sunday, May 3, 2009 in our Church Hall at 2:00 PM. Tickets are available The cost is $12 for adults
and $5 for children under 12. Bring your family and friends for this dinner to celebrate the Easter Season.
Deadline for tickets is April 29th. If you did not purchase
your tickets and plan to attend please get your tickets.
Chairman of the Chinese Auction is Mary Ann Kachinko. Your donations will be appreciated.
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BUILDING FUND: We are grateful for the donations to our Building Fund in memory of Andrew Patrylak from: Sharon & Bob Stene, Ellen & Ted DeAngelo, Andrew, Heather, Julia and Joshua Finkle, Ann Beshada and Co-Workers and friends of Andrew Patrylak, Jr. from Air Products in Allentown. Also our thanks for the donation in memory of Frank Kulick from John & Ann Godzyk.

ALTAR CLOTHES: Our thanks to Michael Kowalick for having our Easter Altar Clothes, that were donated in memory of Priscilla Kowalick, dry cleaned at his place of employment. God’s Blessings.

ALTAR WINE: We express our thanks to an anonymous donator who purchased a case of the wine used for the Holy Eucharist.

CARNATIONS: Mothers Day is coming soon and volunteers are requested to sell the carnations for Human Life at our parish. If we do not get a volunteer we will have to cancel our sale of the carnations. Please inform Father Roman if uyou are interested in doing this worthy cause.

WOMEN’S SOCIETY: The regular monthly meeting of the Women’s Society will meet Tuesday, April 14, 6:30 PM. President Irene Frisbie will preside. All members are asked to please be present and new members are always welcome.

“I am the Resurrection and the Life
Whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.”

NEW BIRTH
The trees and the grass, much the worse for wear
Will soon spring to life, for through God’s loving care
The natural order of God’s perfect plan
Brings life, both to earth and to sleeping man
Waiting to hear the song of the first returning bird
We realize, once more, it’s the sweetest song we’ve heard
Perennials stubbornly pushing their way up through the earth
A celebration of new life, for it’s a glorious rebirth
The streams set free from winter’s icy grasp
Flow through glade and glen, free from winter’s chilling blast
The earth in it’s awakening, its splendor to unfold
Is part of God’s plan that often remains untold
A wonderful restoration, new life from God above
The earth, clothed in beauty, man awakened by God’s love!

SATURDAY OF LAZARUS SATURDAY BEFORE PALM SUNDAY
Almost every week of the Great Fast has its special liturgical features. The same must be said of its Saturdays and Sundays which are dedicated to some event in the life of Jesus Christ, His Blessed Mother and the Church or the Saints.
The special characteristic of the sixth week of the Forty Days Fast is that it spiritually prepares us for two great and glorious events in the life of Jesus Christ: the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead to which are dedicated the Saturday before Palm Sunday, and the triumphal entry into Jerusalem of our Lord Jesus Christ, which the Church celebrated on Palm Sunday.
In our liturgical books this week bears the name – the week of palms (i.e., palm branches), flowers or blossom-bearing week. The dominant theme of the services of this week is the ending of the Great Fast and the preparation of the faithjul for the great miracle of the raising of Lazarus from the dead and Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
May this great and wonderful miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus strengthen also our faith in the divinity of Christ and in our own personal resurrection. That same Christ, who raised the four-day Lazarus from the dead, in His own time, will raise us also to a life of eternal happiness. He Himself assured us of this when He said: “I am the Resurrection and Life. Whoever believes in me, even though he dies, shall live!”

THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF PALM SUNDAY
The Jews wanted to see their messiah in power and glory. According, Jesus Christ, by raising Lazarus from the dead and by His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, gave them clear proof of His power and glory. When He entered Jerusalem, the entire city was thrown into commotion saying: “Who is this?” But the crowds kept on saying: “This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.’”
The honor given to Christ lasted for only a brief moment, for His betrayal by Judas, His rejection by the people, His condemnation by the Jewish leaders, His passion, the way of the cross and crucifixion followed in quick succession. These very same people who, on Sunday cried out, “Hosanna”, within a few days would be crying out: “Crucify Him.”
Palm Sunday teaches us the instability of worldly glory and the vanity of earthly happiness. Joy and sadness here on earth are two inseparable sisters. Therefore, if we wish one day to have a share in the triumph of Christ in heaven, we must first undergo a Passion Week and a Golgotha with Him here on earth. Only then, will we be able, like Him, to enter into everlasting triumph, joy and resurrection

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR OUR SVACHENE DINNER, MAY 3, 2009.
Finally, my brothers, your thoughts should be wholly directed to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous, or worthy of praise. Live according to what you have learned and accepted, what you have heard me say and seen me do. Then will the God of peace be with you.

ALLELUIA – (3). Sing to the Lord a new song for the Lord has done wondrous deeds. Alleluia (3). All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation wrought by our God. Alleluia (3).

IN PLACE OF “IT IS TRULY PROPER…” Extol, my soul, the Lord seated on a donkey’s colt.
IRMOS – God is Lord has appeared to us: Come; let us celebrate this feast with joy. With flowers and palm branches let us magnify Christ; and as we raise our voices, let us sing: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, Our Savior.”

COMMUNION VERSE – Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; God is Lord and has appeared to us. Alleluia (3)

REMEMBER TO COME ON GOOD FRIDAY TO THE CHURCH HALL: On the Great and Holy Friday, April 10th at 4:00 PM, in the Church Hall everyone is welcome to attend the Generation of Faith session on the “Passion.” We will explore the meaning and significance of Jesus’ death. Refreshments will be served.
A Prayer For Palm Sunday
On this day of great rejoicing, Lord Christ, when we welcome You as our King and Savior, we also walk in the shadow of Your cross. Hosanna! We cry. Blessed are You who comes in God’s name to save us. Hosanna!
Strengthen our faith on this Palm Sunday so that when the time comes to carry the cross we might still call out to You with heartfelt praise. Give us the grace and the courage to follow You this Holy Week from death to resurrection, from darkness to the fullness of light. We need You, O Christ, our Savior. Hosanna! Amen.
SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn this week April 4 – 11 by Jule Wido and Family in memory of John Wido.

HOLY WEEK – Please remember that help is needed to participate in the Holy Week services. Holy Thursday, 5:00 PM, Good Friday, 5:30 PM and Resurrection Services Holy Saturday, 7:00 PM. Help will be needed to set up the grave after the Holy Thursday evening services. Try to lend a helping hand. Sign up sheet is in the vestibule for Adoration. Time to spend with God. Give an hour of your time for HIM.

APPRECIATION: We thank all who brought the Willow branches and all who helped tie the Palm & Branches. Your help is always appreciative. God’s blessing to all.

BUILDING FUND: We express our thanks to Norman & Catherine Schmitt for their donation to our Building Fund in memory of Frank Kulick.

LOTTERY TICKETS: The Lottery tickets are still available for the month of May. Try you luck and purchase a few. This is a good fund-raiser for the Church.

SYMPATHY: We extend our deepest Sympathy to Clara Patrylak and Family whose husband Andrew Patrylak has fallen asleep to his eternal rest. May his memory be eternal.

PALM SUNDAY
COMMEMORATION OF CHRIST’S
ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM

APRIL 5, 2009

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The festival of the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem is one of the oldest feast days in the Eastern Church.
In our liturgical books this day is called, “Sunday of the Palms”, “Flower or Blossom Sunday”, “Flower or Blossom-bearing Sunday”. Our people call this Sunday the “Sunday of Pussy-Willows or Willow Sunday. All these names are associated with the custom of blessing and distributing palm on that day in church. Because no palm or olive trees grow in our country, we have a venerable custom of using willow branches, a tree that is the first to blossom in the spring.